- Lotus belong to a type of plants known as perennials; plants that go dormant over the winter but pop
back up in spring. Winter is somewhat of a foreign concept here in Hawaii but your Lotus will know
its sleepy time when the Holiday Season arrives. The leaves will wither away and more than likely
your pond will fill with algae (no competition for nutrients or light). There’s nothing wrong with your
plant – it’s just in its dormant phase. It will be up and about by Valentine’s Day. - The pot that your Lotus will grow in should not be the container that holds the water. If you plant your
Lotus directly in the larger container, it will be very happy… but you won’t be; especially when it
comes time to thin it out during its winter sleepy-time. - Although the leaves love sunshine and heat, the roots do not. If you overheat the roots, the plant will
be very grumpy. If you let them dry out, the plant will die. - Lotuses eat and drink a lot; they like lots of fertilizer and lots of water. A Lotus in its prime growing
season can, along with normal evaporation, draw off a tremendous amount of water from your
pond. This is why we recommend large containers for the water; if you forget to check it for a couple
of days it’s not necessarily a death-sentence for your Lotus. - Deep water is cool water; our ponds usually run 85 to 93 degrees at the surface during the summer
when the leaves shade the water. The temperature at the roots can be ten degrees cooler.
From Pickup to Pond - Growing your Lotus
This is a new Lotus flower on its
way to becoming a bud. This
photo was taken near the end of
the day and shows one day's
worth of growth. Next to it is a
leaf that also popped out of the
water in the morning.
way to becoming a bud. This
photo was taken near the end of
the day and shows one day's
worth of growth. Next to it is a
leaf that also popped out of the
water in the morning.
Good Things to know before you start:
Step One - Prepare your water container. Place it in its final spot and fill it with water; remember to allow
for the displacement that your new plant will bring to the pond. It’s best to let the water sit for a while so
that its temperature comes up to what your plant is accustomed to; our ponds are usually between 85
and 93 degrees Fahrenheit at the water surface and your tap water can easily be twenty degrees colder!
The effect on the plant is similar to dumping cold water on your head while taking a hot shower – the
shock is actually enough to cause serious injury, even death. It will almost certainly kill your plant as
Lotuses are extremely sensitive to water temperature.
Step Two - Take the plant you got from Happy Koi Nursery and carefully lower it into your chosen water
container. Add a fertilizer tab if you wish, it’s not impossible to over fertilize a Lotus but it’s hard to do.
Now would also be a good time to put in some mosquito-chomping fish.
Step Three - Enjoy!
for the displacement that your new plant will bring to the pond. It’s best to let the water sit for a while so
that its temperature comes up to what your plant is accustomed to; our ponds are usually between 85
and 93 degrees Fahrenheit at the water surface and your tap water can easily be twenty degrees colder!
The effect on the plant is similar to dumping cold water on your head while taking a hot shower – the
shock is actually enough to cause serious injury, even death. It will almost certainly kill your plant as
Lotuses are extremely sensitive to water temperature.
Step Two - Take the plant you got from Happy Koi Nursery and carefully lower it into your chosen water
container. Add a fertilizer tab if you wish, it’s not impossible to over fertilize a Lotus but it’s hard to do.
Now would also be a good time to put in some mosquito-chomping fish.
Step Three - Enjoy!
Three Easy Steps to Enjoying Your Happy Koi Nursery Lotus
Ever wonder how big the leaves
can get? This is a Lotus leaf
with a quarter balanced in the
middle to show scale.
can get? This is a Lotus leaf
with a quarter balanced in the
middle to show scale.
